10.26.26 – There was plenty to applaud – and plenty to laugh about! – as the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of New Jersey (AASP/NJ) gathered the automotive community for an evening of celebration at its Annual Meeting last week at Gran Centurions in Clark, NJ. From recognizing rising talent and outstanding shops to welcoming its youngest Hall of Fame inductee, the association packed the night with memorable moments before turning the stage over to two comedians.

The evening opened with Board of Directors elections. Six members were reelected to three-year terms: Joe Amato, Sr. (World Insurance Associates; Wall, NJ), Dennis Cataldo, Jr. (D&M Auto Body; Old Bridge, NJ), Brad Crawford (Livingston Collision; Livingston, NJ), Gary Gardella, Jr. (County Line Auto Body; Howell, NJ), Jeff McDowell (Honorary/Retired) and Ted Rainer (Ocean Bay Auto Body; Point Pleasant, NJ).

The spotlight then shifted to the industry’s next generation as Taina Rivera of Koplin Auto Body in Elizabeth, NJ was recognized as the 2026 Russ Robson Memorial Scholarship recipient. Named for the former AASP/NJ president whose dedication to training helped shape young professionals, the annual scholarship recognizes an emerging talent who shows promise in the trade.

Two standout shops also earned their moment in the spotlight. Petty Motorworks of Waretown, NJ took home the Mechanical Shop of the Year award, while Fantastic Plastic of Clifton, NJ received the Stan Wilson/New Jersey Automotive Body Shop of the Year Award.

A milestone moment followed as Dennis Cataldo, Jr. of D&M Auto Body in Old Bridge, NJ, was inducted into the AASP/NJ Hall of Fame, becoming the youngest recipient of the honor.

With the awards presented, the evening shifted from cheers to laughter. Comedian Danny Braff and TV and radio personality Robert Kelly (known for SiriusXM’s The Bonfire and his television and film appearances) delivered a comedy show that gave attendees a chance to unwind and share a few more laughs with industry peers.

Look for full coverage of AASP/NJ’s Annual Meeting in the November issue of New Jersey Automotive, available at grecopublishing.com.

For more information about AASP/NJ, visit aaspnj.org.